Electrical contact device.



No. 674,0I8. Patented May [4, l90l. M. ROBINSON.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT-DEVICE.

(Application 510d Inn. 81, 1901.)

(In Iodal.)

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

MINER ROBINSON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 674,018, dated May 14,1901.

' Application filed January 31, 1901. Serial No. A37. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MINER ROBINSON, of Newton, in the countyof Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrical Gontact Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is a form of floor-push button or tread of the kindcommonly used for operating an electric bell from a dining-room.consider it a much simpler and more convenient arrangement than has beenemployed heretofore, overcoming many objections to the commonfloor-push, which is ordinarily mortised rigidly in the floor, and thecombination floor-push, with a flexible cord and presselle attached tothe table, both forms having frequently proved a source of trouble andexpense.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective View of mydevice connected to a bell. Figs. 2 and 3 show the construction of theconnecting-ears or bindingposts. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section on mm,Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an endview.

Myinvention consists of two broad resilient metal or electricalconducting-plates P P, as shown in the accompanying drawings, made ofany convenient size, separated and insulated from each other by a pieceof hard rubber or fiber or other insulating material I, to which the twoelectrodes P P are securely attached. The plates are made of suchthickness and stiffness as to ofier considerable resistance to beingpressed together in order that the device may be used underacarpet orrug. Two

wires which'lead from the circuit, composed of a battery, bell, orbuzzer, are connected one to each plate through suitable binding-postsor connections, as shown. The binding-post connections consist of aconducting material preferably a thin narrow strip E of soft malleablemetal, interposed one on each side between each plate and the insulatingmember, there being a hole e drilled through the conducting-strip andinto the insulating member I, in which it is threaded to receive thebinding-screw E for forming the connection, as shown in Fig.3. The cordis carried through a hole h in the insulating member. The whble is soconstructed as to form virtuallya thin flat readily-movable pad, adaptedto lie flat upon the floor and be placed wherever desired within radiusof the flexible conducting-cord, to which it is attached, which may bemade of any length. When the plates are brought together by pressure ofthe foot or otherwise, as shown in Fig. 4, the circuit is closed, whichrings the bell in the usual manner.

The advantages gained may be enumerated as follows: Great simplicity andnon-liability to get out of order. It can be used under any carpet orrug without necessitating a hole being made in either carpet or rug; Thecarpets or rugs may be removed at any time without in any wayinterfering with this attachment. This floor-tread cannot be injured bythe leg of the table being pushed over it or by receiving a heavy blowin any other manner, which is a constant source of trouble with the olddevices. In order to protect a highly-polished surface, such as ahard-wood floor, one of the electrodes is preferably covered with feltor other soft material F, as shown. By bending the insulating-plates P Papart sufficiently to form a permanent set in the metal almost anytension to resist pressure tending to force the electrodes together maybe obtained, which may be necessary in case of a heavy rug or carpet.The device may be used either above or below a rug or carpet, orotherwise, as may be found convenient.

I am aware that presselles are made usually of wood patterned in shapeaftera common clothes-pin and provided with electrical connections soarranged that the circuit is closed when the device is squeezed in thehand, and this I do not claim. My device, on the contrary, is of suchshape as to be at all times in proper position to operate by the footeven when under a rug, being to this end made broad and flat, so thin,in fact, as to make no A circuit-c10sing device consisting of thecombination of two broad resilient conducting metal plates P P, theinsulating member I, metal strips E E, interposed between saidconducting-plates and insulating member, having the projecting earsprcvided with holes e, and binding-screws E E, engaging with said earsand with the insulating material, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature-in presence of twowitnesses.

MINER ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. LEACH, HERMANN O. LYTHGOE.

